BASIC CONDITIONING FACTORS AND SELF-CARE AGENCY OF UNMARRIED WOMEN AT RISK FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 206
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Women's Studies.
Description: Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an area of increasing concern. Yet in spite of counseling regarding the numerous high risks involved, some women continue to engage in risk behaviors and are repeatedly exposed to and contract a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. Using Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, a predictive-correlational design was used to examine the impact of selected basic conditioning factors: age, race, socioeconomic status, health state, patterns of living, and power in relationships, on components of self-care agency specific to sexually transmitted disease.

Data on these variables were obtained from each participant using a self-administered questionnaire. One hundred and forty-eight women between the age of 18 and 45 who were at risk for STD, were sampled.

The strongest predictor of general self-care agency (Attention to Health, subscale 6) was race which was mediated by influence in decision-making. Anglo-American women had more power in relationships and greater Attention to Health than African-American women. When race was controlled, health state, socioeconomic status, and influence in decision-making were significant predictors of Attention to Health for Anglo-American women accounting for 33% of the variance.

With regard to condom use, the majority of women sampled were unsure or did not feel that condoms offered protection from STDs and did not plan to use them. Their self-care agency specific to sexually transmitted disease was not developed. Interestingly, most of the women felt that fear of getting an STD was "quite important" and that they had more control over the use of condoms than their partners. Women in this study were not afraid to ask their partners to use condoms, but 10 women were afraid of abuse if they refused sex and 43 were concerned that their partner would be upset if they refused sex. Condom attitudes and condom use frequency was weakly correlated for both African and Anglo-American women.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-02, Section: B, page: 0368.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0254.